Try to find a smokestack on USM’s new Joel and Linda Abromson Community Education Center (CEC), but you won’t. That’s because it’s practically fossil-fuel free. Our “stackless” building could be the first of its kind built by the state of Maine, I’ve learned from the Director of USM’s Sustainability Office, Dudley Greeley.
“This wonderful public meeting space will serve the arts and education needs of the community and will do so without compromising our air quality or increasing our reliance on fossil fuels,” says Dave Early, Executive Director of Facilities Management for the University of Southern Maine.
Going “stackless” is huge, but that’s not the only thing going for the CEC, a culmination of state-of-the-art design and operation. The new Abromson Community Education Center is a success for more than USM’s Division of Community and Professional Education (CPE), in their role of academic outreach and public service. It is something all students and Maine citizens can be proud of.
As an addition to the new parking garage on Portland’s campus, the CEC is the second of three USM buildings constructed to abide by LEED certification requirements. The John Mitchell Center Advanced Technology Wing in Gorham was first. Next on the list is a new daycare center also for the Gorham campus. U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – ranks a building on conservation of resources, as well as conscientious design and construction strategies for sustainable development in the community. Certification starts at the basic level, and advances to silver, gold, and platinum. Having a third party certify the project significantly boosts the statement of credibility.
USM Engineer, John Rasmussen, is certain the CEC will earn silver, though he and others hope it will earn gold when certification is complete. Sustainable features of the building include:
*landscape designed with native and non-invasive plants-without needing routine pruning, supplemental watering, or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
*a storm water harvesting system and waterless urinals
*natural lighting for office space, aided by ‘light shelves’ to capture and direct sunlight
*monitored provision of fresh air
*healthier, low emission materials & coatings
*radiant floor heating
*renewable energy-photovoltaic panels on roof, wind power purchased by USM, geothermal heating and cooling
*Forest Stewardship Council certified wood products
*integrated resource-recovery collection during construction and operation
*highly reflective white roof- cooler building, less air conditioning needed
*recycled materials in building and finish materials such as carpeting and concrete
USM purchased 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e Certified Wind Energy Certificates from EAD Environmental. This cuts emissions by over 500 tons a year for the next two years of operation for USM’s first two LEED buildings. For Abromson, this covers half the power for two years. Another 27% is covered by following the State’s “renewable and efficient” requirement. Filling 5% more demand with the structure’s solar panels will mean about 82% of the building’s energy demand is met by clean renewable energy for two years, a great accomplishment. 100% sounds better, but without new funding sources, it’s not probable.
The value of this building is greater than the sum of its parts. Due to lower operational costs, “the more sustainable features built into the structure that cost more initially than less environmentally responsible construction will pay for themselves in less than 10 years,” says Dudley Greeley, USM Director of Sustainability. “The building may well be there for over a hundred years.”
Come on down to opening day at the Abromson Community Education Center,
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 12 to 4 p.m., 88 Bedford Street, USM’s Portland campus.
It’s more than indoor space, for more than outdoor space, all for a role in more than human place.